L’Ornellaia

Tenuta dell’Ornellaia is located in one of the world’s most exciting wine regions: Bolgheri.

A breathtaking avenue lined by towering cypress trees leads inland from the Aurelia, the old Roman coastal road, up to the walls of Bolgheri’s medieval hamlet. From the village the view extends far out to sea and on a clear day the islands of the Tuscan Archipelago and Corsica can be seen. The low hilly landscape is dotted with ancient olive groves and vineyards, surrounded by acres of dense woodlands and typical Mediterranean maritime vegetation. The coastal plain provides a habitat for numerous migratory birds and other protected species. In the midst of this untouched beauty lie the vineyards of the Ornellaia Estate.

Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia’s production philosophy is based upon the belief that wines must be the most faithful expression of the terroirs that produce them. The mild maritime climate and the colours and aromas of the lush Mediterranean vegetation leave a special imprint upon the character of the wines. Maximum respect for the Estate’s unique territory guides all aspects of production: limited quantities to ensure maximum quality, attention to every detail, selective hand harvesting, microvinification and ageing.

Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia is located on the Tuscan Coast, overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the section of the Northern Maremma between Livorno and the island of Elba. The vineyards extend over two adjacent areas that are separated by Bolgheri’s famed Cypress Avenue. There are 99 hectares of vineyards in all, 41 surrounding the Tenuta, and the remaining 58 in an area known as Bellaria, which is closer to the sea. The vineyards are planted at altitudes ranging from 50 to 120 meters above sea level, on slopes ranging from 5 to 20°. Planting density per hectare ranges from 5,000 vines per hectare in the older vineyards of the Estate to 7,000 vines per hectare in the Bellaria vineyards. By comparison, some of the most recent vineyards can have up to 8,700 vines per hectare. Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia’s 97 hectares of vineyards are divided into 50 parcels planted to the four varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (38 hectares), Cabernet Franc (12 hectares), Merlot (38 hectares), Petit Verdot (7 hectares), and varietals Sauvignon Blanc (2,5 ha), Vigner (0,5), Petit Manseng (1 ha), all of which have adapted perfectly to this part of Tuscany.